Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Lord Shiva said “My dear Parvati, now I will relate to you the glories of the Eleventh Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita. It is not possible to tell it’s full glories, as there are thousands of stories, I will relate one of them only.

On the banks of the Pranita river is a large town of the name Megankara in which is the famous temple of Jagat Isvara. Jagat Isvara is holding in His hand a bow. In that town of Megankara, there was a pure brahmana of the name Sunanda, who remained a brahmachari his whole life.

Sunanda would sit in front of Lord Jagat Isvara and recite the Eleventh Chapter of the Srimad Bhagavad-gita and remember the Universal Form of the Lord. By reciting that Eleventh Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita, he gained complete control over his senses and was able to remember Lord Jagat Isvara continuously.

Once that pure brahmana Sunanda went on a tour of the holy places on the banks of the Godavari River. He visited all the sacred places, starting with Vraja-Tirtha. In all the holy places he visited, he bathed, and took darshan of the presiding deity. One day he reached the town of Vivian Mandela. Along with his associates he searched for a place to stay and eventually in the middle of that town they found a dharmashala, where they all took rest for the night. When Sunanda woke up in the morning he found that all his associates had left. While searching for them, he met the headman of the town, who immediately fell at his feet and said, “Oh great sage, I cannot say where your associates have gone, but I can tell you that there is no devotee equal to you. I have never seen anyone as pure as you. Oh, my dear brahmana, I am begging you to stay in this town.”

When Sunanda heard the humble request of the headman of the town, he decided to stay for some days. That headman made every arrangement for the comfortable stay of Sunanda and engaged in his service day and night. After eight days had passed, one villager came before Sunanda, crying very loudly and said, “Oh pure Brahmana, last night one rakshasa ate my son,” Sunanda inquired, “Where does that rakshasa stay? And how did he eat your son?”

The villager replied, “In this town one very frightful rakshasa lives, who every day was eating villagers as and when he pleased. One day, we all went to that rakshasa and requested him to protect us, in return for which we would provide him with his daily food. One dharmashala was built, and any travelers who came here were sent there to stay and while they were sleeping the rakshasa would eat them, In this way we have been able to protect ourselves from this rakshasa. You, along with your associates, stayed at that dharmashala, but that rakshasa did not eat you along with everyone else. The reason I will tell you. Last night a friend of my son came but I did not realize that he was a very close and dear friend of my son, so I sent him to stay in dharmashala. Later when my son found out, he went after him to try and bring him back from the dharmashala but when he went there, he was also eaten by that rakshasa. Today, in the morning, I went to that rakshasa and asked him, why he had eaten my son along with the other travelers. I also requested him, if there was any way, I could get back my son. That rakshasa told me, “I did not know that your son had also entered the dharmashala, thus he was eaten with everyone else. As far as getting him back that will be possible when I am freed from this rakshasa body which will be possible by the mercy of a person who recites the Eleventh Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita daily.

Right now, there is one brahmana staying in this town, who had stayed at this dharmashala, but I had not eaten him, because he daily recites the Eleventh Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita. If He daily recites the Eleventh Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-giia seven times then sprinkles water on me, then I will be able to get free from the curse of this rakshasa body”.

Sunanda inquired, from that villager, “What sin did this person perform to attain a rakshasa body?” The villager replied, ‘Long ago there had been a farmer living in this town. One day he was guarding the fields when, just a little distance away from him, one large vulture attacked a person, who was traveling on the road. At that time, one yogi was passing by and when he saw that person being attacked by that vulture he came running to his aid but when he reached him, it was too late. Then that yogi became very angry with the farmer and spoke to him as follows, “One who sees others in danger from thieves, snakes, fire, attack by weapons etc., and even though he is capable of helping them, but does not come to help, is punished by Yamaraja. After suffering in hell for a very long time, he takes birth as a wolf. And one, who helps someone in need of help, certainly pleases Lord Vishnu. One, who attempts to save a cow from the hands of a ferocious animal, a low-class man or a wicked ruler, attains Lord Vishnu, Wicked farmer, you saw that vulture attacking that person but still you made no attempt to save him. Now I curse you to take birth as a rakshasa.” The Farmer said, “I was watching the fields for the whole night and I am very tired, so kindly be merciful to me, oh, gentle sage.” The yogi replied, “When someone, who is daily reciting the Eleventh Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita, sprinkles water on your head, then you will become free from this curse”.

The villager said. “My dear Sunanda, with your hand kindly sprinkle water on the head of this rakshasa.” After hearing that history from the villager, Sunanda went along with him to the place where that rakshasa was staying and while he was reciting the Eleventh Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita, sprinkled water on his head. That rakshasa immediately attained a four-armed form like that of Lord Vishnu. Not only he, but all the thousands of persons he had eaten also attained a four-armed form like that of Lord Vishnu. Then they all sat down in the flower aeroplane, which had been sent to take them all to Vaikuntha.

Seeing those amazing events, the villager inquired from the rakshasa which one was his son. The rakshasa started to laugh and pointed at one of those thousands of beautiful persons sitting in the transcendental airplane and replied, “That is your son”. The villager requested his son to come home with him. Hearing his father’s request the son smilingly replied, “My dear sir, many times you have been my son and I yours but now by the grace of this great pure devotee Sunanda, I have been released from this wheel of birth and death and now I am going to my real home, Vaikuntha. Dear sir, kindly surrender unto the lotus-feet of Sunanda and hear from him the Eleventh Chapter of. Srimad Bhagavad-gita, and you also will be able to attain the abode of Lord Vishnu (Vaikuntha), of this there is no doubt. From Lord Krishna’s mouth, these nectarine instructions came on the battlefield of Kurukshetra in reply to the questions of His friend Arjuna. And only by hearing and reciting this discourse can one break the tight knot which is binding us to this wheel of birth and death.”

Lord Shiva said; “After speaking those words, full of wisdom, to his father, along with all those other fortunate souls, he went to Vaikuntha and his father learned the Eleventh Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita from Sunanda and very soon they also went to Vaikuntha.”

My dear Parvati, you have heard the glories of the Eleventh Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita, which is capable of destroying all sinful reactions.

Lord Shiva said, “I will recite the wonderful glories of the twelfth Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita before you, dear Parvati.”

In the South there is an important holy place by the name of Kolhapur, where the temple of the Lord’s divine consort Maha Lakshmi, is situated. Maha Lakshmi is continuously worshipped by all of the demigods. That place is the fulfiller of all desires. Rudragaya is also situated there. One day, one young prince arrived there. His body was the color of gold. His eyes were very beautiful. His shoulders were very strong and his chest was broad. His arms were long and strong.

When he arrived in Kohlapur, he first went to the lake known as Manikanth-tirth, where he took bath and offered worship to his ancestors. And then he went to the temple of Maha Lakshmi, where he offered his obeisances, and then started to pray, “Oh Devi, Whose heart is full of mercy, Who is worshipped throughout the three worlds and is the giver of all fortune and the Mother of Creation. All glories to You, Oh shelter of all living entities. Oh fulfiller of all desires. You are the wonderful energy of Lord Achyuta, Who is maintaining the three worlds. You are the Supreme Goddess. Oh protector of the devotees. All glories to You. Oh Devi, it is You who fulfills the desires of the devotees, and it is You, who engages them in the service of Lord Achyuta. You are eternal and deliverer of all fallen souls. All glories unto You. Oh Devi, for the welfare and protection of the three worlds, You take on many forms such as Ambika, Brahmi, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Varahi Maha-Lakshmi, Narasimhi, Indri, Kumari, Chandika, Lakshmi, Savitri, Chandrakala, Rohini, Parameshwari. All glories unto You, whose glories are unlimited. Kindly be merciful upon me.”

When Maha Lakshmi heard those prayers, She became very pleased and said to the prince, “Oh prince, I am very happy with you, please request any benediction according to your heart’s desire from me.”

That prince said, “Oh Mother of the three worlds, my father King Brahadrathi was performing the famous sacrifice known as Ashwamedha. But before having completed that yajna, he dies due to disease. And before I was able to complete that Ashwamedha yajna, someone stole the horse that had traveled all over the world and had been purified for sacrifice in that Ashwamedha, I sent persons in all directions in search of that horse, but they were unable to find it. Then I took permission from the priest to come and pray for Your help. And, if You are pleased with me, then kindly let me know, how I can get back that horse and complete the fire sacrifice and thus fulfill my father’s desire,”

Maha-Lakshmi said, “Oh noble prince, by the gate of my temple one highly elevated Brahmana lives, who is known by the name of Siddha-Samadhi. He will be able to fulfill your desire.”

When the prince heard these words of Maha-Lakshmi, he went to the place, where Siddha-Samadhi lived and offered obeisances to him. After having offered obeisances, he stood before Siddha-Samadhi silently with fold hands. Siddha Samadhi then said, “You have been sent here by mother Maha Lakshmi, so I will fulfill your desire.”

Then chanting some mantras, Siddha-Samadhi brought all of the demigods before him. The prince at that time saw all of the demigods standing before Siddha Samadhi, awaiting his instructions. Then Siddha-Samadhi said to those demigods, “Oh devas, this prince’s horse, which he had kept ready for his sacrifice, was stolen at night by Lord Indra. Kindly bring that horse back now.”

Immediately those demigods brought that horse before him, after which Siddha-Samadhi dismissed them. When the prince saw all these wonderful happenings, he fell at the feet of Siddha-Samadhi, and inquired from him. “How have you attained such power, which I have not seen or heard of any one else possessing? Oh great sage, kindly hear my request.

My father, king Brihadrathi while beginning the Ashvamedha-sacrifice, died unexpectedly. And thus I kept his body in pure boiled oil. Kindly, if you desire, please bring him back to life.”

Hearing this, Siddha-Samadhi gave a little chuckle, and said, “Let us go to that place, where you have kept your father’s body.” When they reached that place, Siddha-Samadhi took some water in his hand and while chanting some mantras, he sprinkled the water onto the head of the dead body of King Brahadrathi. As soon as that water touched his head, the King sat up and inquired from Siddha- Samadhi, “Oh, great devotee, who are you?” The prince immediately informed his father of all the events, which had taken place. When the King heard that narration, he again and again offered his obeisances to Siddha-Samadhi, and inquired from him, What austerities he had performed to attain such divine powers. Hearing the King’s inquiry, Siddha-Samadhi replied “My dear king Brahadrathi, daily I recite the Twelfth Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita.”

Hearing those words of that great devotee, the king learnt from Siddha-Samadhi the Twelfth Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita. In the course of time, both the king and his son attained the lotus-feet of Lord Krishna. Many other persons have achieved the topmost goal, devotion to Lord Krishna’s lotus-feet, by reciting the Twelfth Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-gita daily